TOKYO-bound athletics star Nicole Yeargin made her Diamond League bow on Tuesday evening as she continues preparations for this summer’s Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old, who lives in Los Angeles but her mum, Lynn, is from Dunfermline, was in action at Gateshead after securing her Olympic qualification in the 400 metres last month.

Her family ties to Dunfermline saw her cleared to run for Scotland and Great Britain and, while donning a Pitreavie AAC vest, she secured her place by finishing second in a time of 51.26 seconds at the Muller British Athletics Championships.

That meet was her first-ever race in the UK and she followed that up by running in the prestigious Diamond League.

In the final, Yeargin ran a time of 51.77 to finish in fifth place behind Jamaica’s race winner, Stephenie Ann McPherson (50.44); Britain’s Jodie Williams (50.94); the Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver (51.54), and Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek (51.71).

Nicole is scheduled to begin her Olympic event on August 3, when the first round of the women’s 400m begins.

Meanwhile, Dunfermline-born Caroline Weir will begin her Olympic Games next Wednesday, ahead of the opening ceremony.

The 26-year-old, one of two Scots in the Team GB women’s football squad alongside Kim Little, and her team-mates will face Chile in their opening match in Sapporo.

Three days later, they take on hosts Japan, before facing Canada in their final group stage match on July 27.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Manchester City star Caroline was due to be in the team to play New Zealand in a warm-up match.